The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s1.t7.1

c10.s1.t7.1

Tamil literature affords us some glimpses into the wards, streets, sewers, markets, gardens, tanks, temples and public buildings of South Indian cities. In regard to Mâdurâ we know that the streets around the palace and other streets, large and small, straight and crooked, were provided with *puri-mams* (dust receptacles). Such receptacles were built of bricks and were plastered over with white lime. There was one *purimam* at either end of each street.² There was a deep ditch around the walls of the fort. Into this ditch was received all the drainage water of the city.³ "Red light districts" were segregated for public women with separate parks, baths and gardens.⁴